Texans love the wide open spaces, but our state’s geography also means we tend to do a lot of driving, and facing the risks that come along with it.
A recent report looked at traffic accident statistics and identified the Texas roadways with the highest number of fatal motor vehicle accidents, along with some of the causes and factors behind these crashes. Several of the 10 deadliest roads in the state were in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Alarming numbers
According to the report by Moneygeek, the most dangerous roadway in the state is on 1-10 from Exit 855A to Exit 849 in Beaumont. This 4-mile stretch was the scene of 17 fatal accidents between 2018 and 2020.
Other dangerous roads in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area included I-20 from Exit 443 to Exit 439. This stretch of under 5 miles saw 13 fatal accidents during the time period in the study. A similarly-sized stretch of I-30 from Exit 52A to Exit 56C in Dallas was the scene of 12 fatal accidents during the same period. A 4-mile stretch of I-820 from Exit 33C to Exit 30A in Fort Worth saw 10.
Factors
The summer months and the end-of-the-year holidays are often cited as the most dangerous times of the year for drivers, but the report showed that Texas experienced more fatal accidents in October during 2018-2020 than in any other month.
The major contributing factors to these accidents were speeding, alcohol and distracted driving.
Speeding was involved in more than 31% of fatal crashes in Texas during the time period studied. There were 10,125 fatal motor vehicle accidents in Texas between 2018-2020, and speeding was a factor in 3,168 of them.
The next biggest factor was drunk driving. It was a factor in 2,456 fatal accidents during the period — more than 24% of them.
Distracted driving, which includes texting while driving and other activities that take a driver’s eyes and attention off the road, was a factor in 1,001 fatal accidents, or almost 10% of the total.
Negligence
Drivers have a duty to others on the road to avoid unnecessary risks of accidents. When they act recklessly by speeding or driving while drunk or distracted, they breach this duty and commit negligence.
When a negligent driver causes an accident that harms someone else, the injured party can hold them liable for their damages. These damages can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and more.
